Clean Cooking (and how Green Empowerment is making a difference)

Approximately half of the world’s population uses biomass
fuels to cook. What exactly are these, though? Biomass fuels are fuels sourced
from organic content such as animal waste and animal matter, wood, and
charcoal. (1)

Why should we care?

Although these processes sound natural, they have many negative
impacts on humans and the environment. These negative impacts include hazardous
smoke and pollutants, depletion of natural resources, and increased greenhouse
gas emissions. Additionally, many women and children in rural areas of
impoverished countries spend a lot of time gathering firewood. (2)

Because it is the most affordable and available source of
energy for many people, biomass fuels are used by many people in poverty. In
fact, they account for approximately 90% of the national energy within many of
the least developed countries. (2)

However, there is hope! Green empowerment seeks to help
provide countries in need with improved cook stoves. Improved cook stoves
reduce air pollution, fuel consumption, and pollution, and also save time spent
on firewood collection. (1)

Green Empowerment also offers alternative energy sources
such as biogas digester tanks. (1) With this method, bacteria convert organic
waste into methane gas through the process of anaerobic digestion. (3)

With the help of good-natured organizations such as Green
Empowerment, people living in rural areas of impoverished nations now have more
access to sustainable than ever before!